Schedule
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Howard Thurman Center
8:00 – 9:00 am
Light breakfast
9:00 – 9:15 am
Welcome
9:15 – 10:15 am
The Race Beat
After decades of substandard–and sometimes nonexistent–coverage of race in the mainstream media, journalists who report on race and equity will discuss the importance of this beat and will offer recommendations and tools for nuanced coverage of BIPOC communities.
- Tiana Woodard, reporter, The Boston Globe
- Kat Stafford, Global Race and Justice Editor, Reuters
- Nicole Carr, investigative journalist
- Moderator: Amber Payne, The Emancipator
10:30 – 11:30 am
Show Me The Money: Advertising and Black-Owned Media
Though many corporations pledged to allocate more funds to Black-owned media companies in the wake of the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, Black media executives aren’t always seeing the results. This panel will explore the issues behind why advertisers’ efforts are falling short, from scale challenges to programmatic advertising, and what can be done to correct the disparity in ad spend.
- Jeffrey L. Bowman, Co-founder and CEO of Reframe
- Gonzalo Del Fa, President, GroupM Multicultural
- DeVon Johnson, co-founder, Black Owned Media Equity and Sustainability Institute (BOMESI)
- Moderator: Mark Walton (COM’76), The New School
11:45 am – 12:45 pm
The State of Black Storytelling in Film and Television
Though numerous recent diversity reports have found that the percentage of Black talent in front of the camera has increased, studies have also found that fewer films and television series are centered on Black stories. Among other questions, this panel will explore what role streaming services play in amplifying Black stories, which stories about the Black experience are successfully getting told, and what those projects can teach us about getting Black narratives to the screen.
- Nerissa Williams Scott, CEO and Lead Producer at TCGT Entertainment
- Charlene Polite Corley, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, Nielsen
- Tambay Obenson, film critic and founder of Akoroko LLC
- Moderator: Lisa Simmons, Roxbury International Film Festival
12:45 – 2:00 pm
Lunch
2:00 – 3:00 pm
AI and Bias: What You Need to Know
As AI rapidly evolves and the media increasingly relies on AI algorithms to curate and distribute content, what do media professionals need to know about bias and fairness in AI algorithms and data? Our panel of experts will explore sources of bias and will address how media professionals can navigate ethical concerns in AI.
- Yeshimabeit Milner, Executive Director and co-founder, Data for Black Lives
- Bernadette Morris, President and CEO of Sonshine Communications and Black PR Wire
- Kee Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Black Girl Ai
- Moderator: Sherrod Blakely, Associate Professor of the Practice, Sports Journalism, Boston University College of Communication
3:15 – 4:45 pm
Ida Lewis Keynote Conversation: The Trailblazers
Meet the women who paved the way for generations of Black media professionals. Our panelists will offer important perspectives on how communications industries have changed, how they have remained the same, and the work that remains to be done.
- Dorothy Gilliam, first African-American female reporter, columnist, & editor for The Washington Post
- Allison Davis (CGS’73, COM’75), communications strategist and television executive
- Paula Madison, Chairman and CEO of Madison Media Management LLC and former Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at NBCUniversal
- Moderator: Meghan Irons, Professor of the Practice, Impact Journalism, Boston University College of Communication
5:00 – 6:00 pm
Young Alumni Pioneers
In the last 20 years, Boston University has graduated numerous Black media professionals who are changing the conversations in newsrooms, board rooms, and on production sets. Hear their advice for young media professionals.
- Lisa Peters (CGS’97, COM’99), Physical Production Executive, Netflix
- Jaxson Twine (COM’21), Art Director, MRM/McCann Detroit
- Elias Miller (COM’21, CAS’21), NBC’s Meet the Press
- Ivellisse Morales (COM ‘12), Founder and CEO, bombilla
- Moderator: Mandile Mpofu (COM ‘23), reporter, The Bay State Banner
6:00 pm
Reception, first floor
Please join us for a closing reception hosted by The Howard Thurman Center.